Case flap-opening machine



June 24, 1969 w. F. ROTH ET AL CASE FLAP--OPENING MACHINE med Aug. 24, 1966.

Sheet INVENTOR@ WILLIAM F. ROTH THOMAS E. FIS-SEL ATTORNEY n June 24 1959 l w. F. ROTH ET AL 3,451,195

CASE FLAP-OPENING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24. 196e sheet 2 of 5 FIG3 wlLLlAM F; ROTH THoMAs E, FISSEL BY 6, /ZWWQW ATTQRNEY vhlm-2 24, 1969 W, F ROTH ET AL 3,451,195

CASE FLAP-OPENING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1966 FIG. 4

INVENTORS WILLIAM F. ROTH THOMAS E. FISSEL.

ATTORNEY K June 24,l 1969 W, F. ROTH ET AL 43,451,195',

CASE FLAP--OPENING MACHINE Sheet Filed Aug. 24. 1966 INVENTOR WILLIAM F. ROTH FIG.

THOMAS E. FlSSEL June 24, 1969 w. F. ROTH vET Al- CASE FLAP--OPENING vMACHINE sheet 5 @f5 Filed Aug. 24. 1966 V ATTORNEY,

United States Patent O 3,451,195 CASE FLAP-OPENING MACHINE William F. Roth and Thomas E. Fissel, Hanover, Pa., assignors to Chisholm-Ryder Company of Pennsylvania, Hanover, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Aug. 24, 1966, Ser. No. 574,763 Int. Cl. B65b 43/39, 43/54 U.S. Cl. 53-382 12 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A flap-opening mechanism for unfolding the side and end flaps of cases or cartons and hold the same in such unfolded positions as the cases are moved along a path on a conveyor, regardless of whether the aps are on the vbottom or top of the case, and comprising means to first open the outer fiaps, which usually are connected to the sides of the case, and then open first the leading inner ap by engaging one side edge thereof with fingers moving in the same direction as the cases but at a greater speed, maintain said leading flap unfolded, and then stop the movement of said fingers at a position to engage the side edge of the trailing flap and cam it to open position as the case is advanced past the finger, followed by holding said trailing ap in said open position.

This invention pertains to a case flap-opening mechanisrn or machine. More particularly, the invention pertains to a case Hap opening machine operable to open the flaps initially forming either the top or bottom of a case which is substantially rectangular in plan view and made from foldable material such as corrugated paper board or heavy chipboard and the like, said cases sometimes being referred to as cartons but known in the packaging industry as cases.

Glass containers, whether bottles, jars or the like, usually are shipped in cases of the foregoing type in empty condition from the manufacturer of the containers to the processor who makes or processes the material with which the containers are to be filled. Accordingly, upon the processor of the filling material receiving the containers in such cases, it is necessary to remove the containers from the cases, fill and cap or seal the containers, and then usually restore the filled containers to the empty cases in which they originally were shipped to the processor of the material with which the containers are filled. Unless the containers initially were labeled, they usually are labeled after being filled and then are restored to the packing or shipping cases referred to for shipment to distributors, retailers, and ultimate consumers.

In following the foregoing procedure which is quite widely practiced at present, cases made from chipboard, corrugated paperboard, or the like, are formed substantially in square or rectangular configuration and comprise connected end and side walls, as well as flaps extending from the opposite top and bottom edges of said end and side walls. Said aps are folded into closing, overlapping engagement with each other so as to form laminated top and bottom composite closures for the case. Either the top or bottom-forming fiaps are glued together under such circumstances but the flaps comprising the opposite upper or lower face of the case, at least initially, remain unglued so as to permit access to the interior of the case. Suitable dividers are frequently used, especially if the containers to be placed in the cases are of a breakable nature.

Glass containers usually are shipped in cases of the foregoing type, either in what might be termed right-sideup condition or up-side-down condition, depending upon whether the upper ends of the containers are adjacent the unglued flaps of the case or the glued fiaps thereof.

'ice

Such containers are shipped by the manufacturer to the consumer in whichever direction the containers are desired with respect to the openable face of the case formed by the unglued flaps.

Upon the processor, who is the initial consumer of the unfilled containers, receiving cases filled therewith, it is necessary for the processor to remove the containers from the cases through the openable face thereof comprising the overlapping, unglued flaps, while the glued flaps comprising the other face of the case are undisturbed. After the containers are removed from the case and are filled, and/or labeled if necessary at this stage of operations, they are restored to the cases from which they were removed for transportation either to storage or the subequent consumer. Under the latter circumstances, the unglued fiaps usually are glued after completion of the filling and labeling, if necessary, of the containers placed within the cases inasmuch as no further removal of the containers from the cases is necessary until the cases ultimately are opened, for example, for placement of the containers upon the shelves of the retail store or the like.

When the containers which originally are shipped in empty condition within the cases are received by the processor who is to fill the containers, they must initially be removed from the cases and incident to such removal, according to modern practice, the cases usually are handled by appropriate mechanism which unfolds the previously closed but unglued flaps, comprising one face of the case, to substantially unfolded position in which they extend somewhat laterally beyond the edges of the side and end walls of the case to which they are hingedly connected. When in this condition, the cases are moved to a filling machine in which filled and labeled or unlabeled containers are inserted into said cases, followed by closing of the unfolded flaps into overlapping, closing relationship with respect to each other. The latter flaps usually are glued or cemented at this stage if the containers therein have been labeled, thereby to provide a completely sealed case which safely encloses the containers disposed within said case.

A number of mechanisms have been devised heretofore to handle cases filled with containers, remove or permit the removal of the containers therefrom, and arrange the openable flaps comprising one face of the case in substantially fully opened position, and then advance the case with its aps in said condition to a filling station wherein filled containers or the like are reintroduced into the open face of the case, followed by closing of the fiaps, gluing of the same, and any subsequent incidental operations which may be required. Certain of these previous mechanisms have been designed to operate upon the openable flaps of cases when the cases are moving along with the openable flaps uppermost. Still others have operated upon cases when the openable flaps are lowermost, whereby the containers are removed therefrom primarily by the force of gravity, followed by disposing the openable aps in outwardly projecting, open position for transfer of said cases in such condition to a filling station.

However,- at least certain of these mechanisms have been extremely complex and have included flap-engaging elements which extend into the cases for purposes of engaging at least certain of the flaps to raise them to open position. Especially where the cases are still filled with containers under the circumstances, it is obvious that interference with the containers by the flap-engaging means can conflict therewith and result `in damage either to the containers or to the mechanism. Other mechanisms have required the use of a substantial number of different flapengaging elements and mechanisms, requiring the use of a substantial amount of operating equipment and being costly to manufacture.

In contrast to the previous mechanisms of the type referred to, the present invention comprises a mechanism for unfolding or opening the openable flaps of cases to substantially fully opened position by the means of relatively simple, foolproof, and highly efiicient arrangement of cooperating means which successively engage and open the outermost flaps of a case, hold said flaps in extended, open position while continuing to advance the case to inner flap opening mechanism, the operation of which is controlled by the advancing movement of the case, and such latter mechanism initially unfolding or opening the leading inner flap, followed immediatey by unfolding or opening the trailing inner flap, thereby disposing all of the flaps in laterally extending, open position in order that additional guide means which are provided may maintain said opened flaps in such unfolded position while the case is being advanced to a filling station where containers are reintroduced into the case, followed by the closing of the flaps to completely enclose the containers in said case.

It is another object of the present invention to provide said inner flap-opening mechanism with means which are located adjacent one side of the path of movement of the cases so as to engage side edges of the leading and trailing inner flaps, regardless of whether the open end of the case is uppermost or lowermost, thereby enabling the use of relatively simple flap-engaging members presenting minimum possibilities of damage either to the mechanism, the case flaps, or the containers if in the cases at the flapopening operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide `inner Hap-opening mechanism which operates upon both the leading and trailing inner flaps of a case as moved along a predetermined path in the mechanism, the opening mechanism being movably actuated to engage the leading flaps to move them to open position, while the opening mechanism simply is stopped to present a drag upon the trailing flap to move the same to open position, the movement and stopping of said flap-engaging means being controlled by passage of the case along its predetermined path.

A still further object of the invention is to provide relatively simple and foolproof control means arranged to operate clutch mechanism connected to the drive means for the inner flap opening means, the control means being actuated by cases while moving along said predetermined path, all of said control and actuating mechanisms, as well as the flap-opening means, being readily accessible for servicing or adjustment.

One other object of the invention is to provide the inner flap opening means with a series of flexible spring fingers which directly engage one edge of the inner flaps of the cases as they move along their predetermined path, said spring fingers being of such nature that while they are highly effective to engage and move the inner flaps to desired open position, they nevertheless do not damage the fiaps in any way.

Details of the invention and of the foregoing objects, as well as other objects thereof, are set forth in the following specication and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, comprising a part thereof.

In the drawings;

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one arrangement of an exemplary case flap-opening mechanism embodying the principles of the present invention and being shown in partly foreshortened manner, said showing otherwise being somewhat diagrammatic to illustrate the overall general principles of the mechanism in a simple manner.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary top plan view of the inner flap opening means of the overall mechanism illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the inner flap-opening mechanism illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, perspective view principally of the inner apopening mechanism and the actuating and control means therefor, as viewed from one side and looking slightly upward at the lower portion of said means.

FIGS. 5-8 are diagrammatic side elevational views respectively illustrating successive steps employed in the opening of the outer and inner flaps hingedly connected to one face of a case and showing the case progressively with said fiaps in fully closed to fully opened or unfolded position as achieved by the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, somewhat diagrammatic plan view showing another arrangement of case flap-opening mechanism embodying the principles shown in the arrangement in the preceding figures but arranged to operate upon cases moving along a conveyor upon which the cases are supported and moved with the openable flaps disposed uppermost, as distinguished from being lowermost as in the arrangement `in the preceding figures.

FIG. l0 is a fragmentary, generally diagrammatic side elevation of the arrangement of flap-opening mechanism illustrated in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an exemplary, somewhat diagrammatic end elevation of the arrangement of mechanism illustrated n FIGS. 9 and 10.

Referring to the arrangement of case flap-opening mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 1-8, it will be seen particularly from FIGS. 1 and 4 that the cases 10, especially as shown in FIG. 1, move along a conveyor 12 which is supported by a suitable machine frame 14 of a longitudinal nature.

The conveyor 12 preferably is in the form of a fiexible belt at least as wide as the cases 10. Cases 10, as can be seen from FIG. 1, are filled with a number of containers 16 which are disposed uppermost therein, and the ends or faces 18 of the cases 10, which are disposed uppermost, are preferably permanently closed by means of the overlapping flaps comprising the same being glued together, while the lowermost faces 20 of the cases are formed by overlapping side and end aps which are unglued and therefore the flaps are readily unfoldable to open position.

The cases 10, while in the condition just described, are moved in the direction of the arrow shown adjacent the right-hand end of FIG. 1 until the lower side edges of the cases engage transversely spaced and longitudinally movable sloping side conveyors 22 and 24 which are mounted around appropriate supporting rollers and are driven with the upper courses thereof moving in the direction of the main conveyor 12. The opposite lower side edges of the cases 10 are supported upon the conveyors 22 and 24 in a manner illustrated in FIG. la.

In this condition, as indicated above, the lower face of each case 10 is composed of a pair of inner flaps which are folded into the lower plane of the case, and a pair of outer flaps which likewise are folded into engagement with the outer surfaces of the inner flaps so as to dispose the same substantially within said bottom plane of case 10. While so positioned, the cases 10, with the containers 16 therein, are advanced by the side conveyors 22 and 24 into engagement with an outer flap-opening plow 26, shown in FIGS. 1 and 1a. The leading end of said plow s positioned for insertion between the outer flaps 28 and the inner flaps of the case 10 so as to move the outer aps downwardly somewhat in the manner i1- lustrated in FIG. 1a, while the cases 10 are being advanced by means of the opposite parallel friction belts 30, as seen in FIG. 1. The shape of the side edges of the plow blade 26 is such as to cause substantialy full opening of the outer or side flaps 28 into downwardly extending position, whereupon the weight of the containers 16 within the case is sufiicient to engage against the inner flaps 32 of the case and force them to downwardly extending, open position. In this condition of the case 210, the containers 16 are free to drop a short distance onto an additional conveyor 34 which may be at a slightly lower level, for example, than the main conveyor 12, as shown in FIG. 1.

When the containers 16 have dropped from the cases onto conveyor 34, the empty cases then are in a position to be engaged while thus inverted, by a pair of opposed endless belts 36 which extend around appropriate pulleys 38, the innermost courses of said belts, being spaced apart approximately equal or preferably slightly less than the width of the cases 10. Thus, said inner courses respectively frictionally engage the opposite side walls of the cases and move the same diagonally forwardly and upwardly as seen in exemplary manner near the left-hand end of FIG. 1. To insure proper frictional engagement between the belts 36 and the sides of the cases, additional backing idler rollers 40 are provided at spaced locations along said inner courses of the belts to urge the same against the sides of the cases 10. Said backing rollers 40 are supported on pivoted, spring-pressed arms, as shown in FIG. 4. Further, one of the pulleys 38 is driven by any suitable means such as a sprocket gear 42 which is connected to a suitable motor or the like otherwise located on the machine but not specifically illustrated.

lIt will be understood that the opposing belts 36 are driven at the same speed and the inner courses thereof are parallel and are driven unidirectionally, such driving being continuous during the operation of the machine. It also is to be understood that while the cases 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1-8 are shown as being rectangular and the major axis thereof extends longitudinally of the path of movement thereof, such arrangement of the cases is not intended to be restrictive since the major axis of the cases may extend transversely to such line of movement, if desired, within the spirit of the invention.

Disposed adjacent the opposite sides of the angularly outwardly and upwardly extending path illustrated at the left-hand end of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1 are a pair of rod-type guides 44, having leading ends 46 which are shaped appropriately to extend downwardly and inwardly toward each other so as to engage the outer flaps 28 after they have been moved downwardly in suspended manner by the plow 26. The shape of the leading ends 46 particularly are such as to spread said outer flaps sidewise, substantially laterally, in opposite directions away from each other. If desired, the outer flaps 28 may be maintained by the rail-like guides 44 in outwardly extending, substantially perpendicular positions with respect to the opposite side walls of the cases, if desired, but such extreme lateral positioning of' the outer fiaps is not necessary in accordance with the spirit of the invention. It is only essential that said outer flaps be moved outwardly substantially beyond the planes of the side walls of the cases to which they are hingedly connected so as to permit ready unfolding of the inner flaps to open position.

When the outer fiaps 28 have been moved as described and are maintained in such unfolded or open position, as described above, by means of the rail-like guides 44, the inner flaps 32, which are hingedly connected to the edges of the end walls of the case 10, are readily accessible to be unfolded or moved to fully open position from the normal partially closed position they assume after the containers 16 have been moved therefrom and while the cases 10 are suspended in the inverted or up-side-down position thereof. To effect such unfolding or opening of the inner flaps 32, mechanism comprising the principal feature of the invention, which includes in particular inner flap-unfolding means generally designated by the numeral 48. Details thereof are shown in their entirety in FIGS. 2 and 3, in enlarged scale, over that employed in FIG. 1. Attention therefor is directed to said figures and detailed description thereof is as follows.

In accordance with the spirit of the invention, it is one of the more important objectives thereof to provide inner nap-unfolding or opening means which is capable of unfolding or opening both the leading and trailing inner flaps of the cases as they are moved progressively along a predetermined path within the mechanism, after the outer flaps have been unfolded to open position. With this objective in mind, a relatively simple and foolproof mechanical system has been devised which employs a plurality of outwardly extending fiexible, spring-like fingers 50. It has been found that appropriate coil springs approximately of the size normally employed in so-called screen door springs are highly suitable when cut to suitable length and one end of each spring is connected to an endless, flexible supporting member 52 which preferably comprises a link-type chain such as the type normally referred to as bicycle chain. Said one end of each of a plurality of such flexible fingers 50 are connected to longitudinally spaced links upon the chain 52 by any appropriate means such as screws or the like and the outer ends of the fingers 50 preferably are rounded. Hence, by employing said fingers to engage the side edges of the depending inner flaps 32 of a case 10 to unfold the same to open position, no damage is imparted to said flaps.

An appropriate auxiliary frame 54 is supported by any suitable means by portions of the main frame of the mechanism, such as vertical members 56 which are intended to be representative of suitable frame means formed from appropriate channels, steel plates and the like, complete details of which are not believed to be necessary in the present illustration. The general position of the auxiliary frame 54 in an overall machine is shown in FIG. l, while further details thereof are illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4. A depending extension 58 of said auxiliary frame supports a horizontal member 60 to which a plurality of adjustable shafts 62 are connected for rotatably supporting a pair of idler sprockets 64.

A bearing housing sleeve 66 also is fixed to the auxiliary frame 54 and rotatably supports a vertical shaft 68 therein. Freely rotatable upon the upper end of shaft 68 is a hub 70 having a sprocket gear 72 fixed thereto and also having a toothed driving clutch member fixed thereto. The frame 54 also supports a bearing arbor 76 within which shaft 78 is rotatable. One of the pulleys 38 around which one of the endless belts 36 extends is connected to the lower end of shaft 78, while a driving sprocket gear 80 is fixed to the upper end of said shaft. A sprocket chain 82 extends around driving sprocket gear 80 and driven sprocket gear 72, whereby during the operation of the machine, as long as the belts 36 are being driven for purposes of advancing cases 10 up to their predetermined path past the inner flap-unfolding means 48, the driving clutch member 72 will continue to revolve.

Mounted on the lower end of shaft 68 is a driving sprocket gear 84 around which the supporting chain 52 extends as well as around the two idler sprocket gears 64. Keyed appropriately to a spline or other geometric configuration formed on the upper end of shaft 66 is a driven clutch collar 86 having an annular groove 88 therein. When it is desired to operate the supporting chain 52 for purposes of driving the flexible fingers in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2, for example, so as to cause said fingers to engage the leading inner flap 32 and move the same to unfolded position, the `driven clutch collar 86 is moved into engagement with the driving clutch member 74 by the following means.

A substantially vertical frame member 90' is fixedly connected to the auxiliary frame member 54 by any suitable means. Connected to the lower end of frame member 90 is a clevis 92. Pivotally connected to the opposite sides of frame member 90 are a pair of transversely spaced and parallel clutch levers 94 which move about a fixed pivot pin 96. Extending upwardly from the levers 94 are a pair of legs 98 having a transverse pin 100 extending therebetween. Supported by the clevis 92 is a pivot pin 102 which engages one end of a fluid-operated cylinder 104 which preferably is operated by compressed air, and reciprocably supports a piston and piston rod 106, the upper end of the piston rod 106 engaging the pin 100.

A pair of fluid supply lines 108 respectively extend between opposite ends of the cylinder 104 and opposite ends of a uid-control valve 110 supported by a suitable bracket 112 which is appropriately connected to auxiliary frame 54 but such connection is broken away in FIG. 3 to permit illustration of intervening mechanism. Fluid control valve 110 is actuated by trip member 114 which extends downwardly and forwardly with respect to control valve 110, whereby the lower portion of the member 114 is in position to be engaged by the bottom surfaces of cases 110, which bottoms are uppermost as the cases move along the predetermined path defined by the opposite endless belts 36.

The operation of the inner flap-opening or unfolding means 48 is as follows. After the outer flaps 28 of the case 10 have been moved to unfolded, laterally extended position by the plow 26 and leading ends 46 of the railtype guides 44 and such outer fiaps are maintained in said position by guides 44, the upper surface of the leading end of a case 10 which has been thus partially opened engages the trip member or shoe 114 of the control mechanism comprising primarily the fluid control valve 110. Such movement of trip member 114 immediately shifts the valve to direct fluid into the upper end of cylinder 104 which causes pivotal movement of the clutch levers 94 in counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3. This instantly engages the driven clutch collar 86 with the driving clutch member 74 which, meanwhile, has been continuously rotating.

Particularly in view of the relatively small diameter of sprocket gear 72 with respect to the driving sprocket gear 80 which drives gear 72, and inasmuch as the diameter of driving sprocket gear 80 is only slightly less than the diameter of the driving pulley 38 which supports and drives one of the belts 36 which propels the cases along their path, it will be seen that the driven sprocket gear 72 revolves much more rapidly than sprocket gear 80. Further, since the small sprocket gear 72, when the clutch members are interconnected, drives sprocket gear 80 which propels the supporting chain 52 that carries the fiexible fingers 50, said fingers will be moved linearly at a much greater speed than that at which the cases are advanced by the belts 38.

With reference to the upper part of FIG. 2, it also will be seen that the upper course of belt 36 illustrated in the upper part of said figure is adjacent and parallel to one side of the path along which the cases 10 move. It also will be seen that the outer ends of the fingers 50 project into said path. This results in said fingers engaging the adjacent side edge of the leading inner flap 32 as the case is advanced into the vicinity of the fingers, after the supporting chain 52 has been activated as a result of engagement of the leading end of the case with the trip member 114, as described above.

The very much greater linear speed of the fingers 50 than that of the advancing cases 10 causes a rapid and repeated wiping engagement of the outer ends of the fingers with said side edge of the leading inner fiap 32 which results in the same being fiipped to forwardly extending, open or unfolded position, as shown in full lines in FIG. l with respect to the case 10 which is in direct engagement with trip lever 114. The fingers 52 continue to be moved while the case 10 is advanced along its path, until the trailing end of the upper surface of the case 10, which actually is the bottom thereof, disengages the trip lever 114. By the time this occurs, the outwardly projecting terminal edge of the leading inner fiap 32 has engaged the terminal end 116 of longitudinally extending positioning means comprising a metal strip 118 which is appropriately fixedly supported with respect to auxiliary frame 54. To facilitate engagement of the positioning means 118 by the leading inner flap 32, the leading, terminal end 116 thereof is curved downwardly.

As soon as the trailing end of the upper surface of the case 10 has disengaged the trip member 114, the valve 110 is shifted to direct fiuid into the upper end of cylinder 104 and causes the clutch collar 86 to disengage driving clutch member 74 and thereby stop the movement of the fingers 50. Substantially at rthe time the movement of fingers 52 has been stopped in the manner described above, the trailing inner flap 32 will have reached the foremost transversely projecting finger 50 in its path of movement and said lforemost finger will engage the adjacent side edge of said somewhat downwardly depending trailing inner flap 32 and impart a drag thereupon, thus functioning in the manner of a fixed cam to move the trailing fiap 32 rearwardly so as to adequately unfold the same substantially to its so-called open position.

As the case continues to be moved along its ipath by the belts 36, said t-railing inner flap 32 will continue to engage the entire row of projecting fingers 52 and by the time the last finger in the projecting row has passed by and is disengaged from said trailing flap, said flap will have engaged the terminal end 116 of positioning means 118. When this occurs, both of the outer side flaps 28, as well as the inner leading and trailing end fiaps 32 of the cases, 'will all have been moved to oppositely and outwardly extending positions well beyond the planes of the side walls and end Walls of the case to which the flaps respectively are connected. This establishes the flaps in an adequate open position whereby, upon moving the thus opened cases along their predetermined path, while the fiaps engage the positioning means 118 and the longitudinally extending side guides 44, the cases will be moved around the curved guide section 120 of the case supporting means, shown in FIG. l, to dispose the open faces of the cases uppermost. Continued guided movement of the cases along upper conveyor 122 leads the thus opened cases to a filling station for example, where they are refilled with the containers 16 after the containers themselves, for example, have been filled and/ or labeled, or otherwise processed. In conjunction with the `upper conveyor 122, the guides 44 and longitudinally extending positioning means 118 are coextensive and, if desired, may be in the same plane with each other, which plane is spaced above the conveyor 122.

For purposes of illustrating somewhat diagrammatically, the successive steps by which the outer and inner fiaps of the cases 10 are unfolded to open position, attention is directed to FIGS. 5-8. It will be seen for example in FIG. S, that the leading end of the case 10 has engaged the forward end of plow 26 for purposes of camming the outer flaps 28 into unfolded, open position. In FIG. 6, the case 10 has proceeded to its upwardly inclined path by being engaged by the belts 36, the outer fiaps 28 are being maintained in open position by slidable longitudinal engagement with the guides 44, wthile the side edge of the leading inner iiap 32 is being unfolded to open position by the rapidly moving fiexible fingers 52.

Next, in FIG. 7, it will be seen that the case 10 has progressed further to the point Where the unfolded leading inner flap 32 is in slidable engagement with positioning means 118, the fingers 50 have been stopped and said lingers are imposing a drag upon the trailing inner flap 32 so as to dispose it in unfolded, open position. Finally, in FIG. 8, it will be seen that all of the flaps are disposed in unfolded, open position while the case 10 continues to advance along its path as propelled by the belts 36, the outer liaps 28 being maintained in open position by the guide rails 44, while the leading and trailing inner flaps 32 are maintained in open position by sliding engagement with positioning means 118.

All of the foregoing description primarily has dealt with the arrangement of structure shown in FIGS. l-8 which, without restriction thereto, has been arranged to handle cases disposed in so-called inverted position, wherein the openable fiaps thereof are disposed lowermost, while the closed or sealed face or bottom of the case is disposed uppermost. As also indicated above, however, it is intended that the present case iiap opening mechanism is applicable to operate upon cases wherein the open I[face thereof, from which the openable flaps foldably extend is disposed uppermost during movement through the mechanism or machine.

In this latter regard therefore, attention is directed to the arrangement diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 9-11 in which exemplary illustration is set forth to illustrate the principles of the present invention applied to cases being moved along an exemplary conveyor 12 while being supported with the sealed face thereof lowermost in engagement with the conveyor 12, while the upper face of each case which has the openable flaps foldably connected thereto is disposed uppermost. If desired, the cases 10 may be moved along by opposed, parallel belts 36 of the same type as illustrated and described above with respect to the preceding embodiments. Similar drive means may be used in regard to this additional embodiment. Further, the path of the cases may be either horizontal or inclined, as required by the mechanism to be used to extract the containers from the open, upper Ifaces of the cases, details of which tare not shown.

Directing attention particularly to FIG. 9 and especially the right-hand end thereof, it will be seen that a case 10A is initially being engaged by the leading end. of the plow 36 for purposes of unfolding and opening the outer fiaps 28 thereof upwardly. The function of the plow 36 is similar to that in the preceding embodiment. With reference to the case 10B immediately to the left of case 10A in FIG. 9, it will be seen that the leading ends 46 of the guides 44 have engaged and moved the outer flaps 28 to desired unfolded position, in which said flaps have been moved beyond the planes of the opposite side of the case 10 so ,as to offer no interference with the opening operation of the inner flaps 32.

Considering the next case 10C which is the third lfrom the right in IFIG. 9, it will be seen that the bottom face of the case has engaged the trip member 114 which is disposed below the same so as readily to be engageable thereby for purposes of initiating operation of the flexible endless carrier 52 which supports the preferably fiexible spring-like fingers 50 as in regard to the preceding embodiment. It will be understood that the support membe-r 52 is supported by the idler and driving sprockets and other supporting and actuating mechanism shown in detail in FIIGS. 2 and 3 with regard to the preceding embodiments but, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the supporting shafts 62 and hubs of the sprockets around which flexible supporting member 52 extends are disposed in inverted position to that shown in FIG. 3 to clear the opened outer flaps 28, as shown in exemplary manner in FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic side elevation of said additional arrangement shown in plan view in FIG. 9 and in which it will be seen that the plane within which the member 52 and the fingers 50 operate is disposed parallel to and slightly above the plane of the open upper faces of cases 10- so as to permit the inner flap-opening mechanism to function without interference.

After the outer aps 28 have been unfolded to open position and maintained therein by the rail-like guides 44, the inherent memory of the material from which cases 10, of the type to which the present invention pertains, are made usually is sufficient to cause the thus released inner flaps 32 to spring upwardly at least a slight distance. Should such upward movement of the outer ends of the inner flaps 32 not be adequate to enable the fingers 50 to engage the outer side edges of the leading inner flap 32 for purposes of moving it to unfolded, open position, it is contemplated by the present invention to provide auxiliary lifting means of any suitable nature. The type which is specifically illustrated herein comprises a first air nozzle 124 which is connected to a suitable source of air under pressure for example, not shown. The air line includes a control valve, not shown, which is operable for example by the control valve 110 which controls the 10 operation of support member 52 and the fingers 50 thereon.

From FIGS. 9-11, it will be seen that the nozzle 124 is directed rearwardly and downwardly, the delivery end being rearmost and thereby being in position, when delivering a blast of air, to direct the same beneath the leading inner flap 32 and thus cause the same to be elevated for certain engagement by the rapidly moving fingers 50 which are actuated by the same mechanism described above with respect to the preceding embodiment arrangement of FIGS. l-8. Such unfolding and opening movement of the leading inner flap 32 causes the same to be moved from the exemplary closed position on case 10B shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, to the open position thereof on case 10C, in which position the leading flap is engaged with the positioning means 118 to hold it open as the case moves along its path.

A secondary nozzle 126 is positioned preferably adjacent one side of the case 10C, as shown in FIG. 10, immediately above the adjacent open outer fiap 28, so as to direct the blast of air beneath the trailing inner flap 32 as the case 10 advances, it being understood, with respect to the specific illustration in FIGS. 9 and 10, that by the time the air nozzle 126 is actuated, the leading inner flap 32 will have been moved to unfolded, open position such as illustrated in FIG. 9 with respect to case 10C immediately beneath the finger-supporting member 52. Control of the supply of air under pressure to the secondary nozzle 126 may be effected and controlled also by valve 110. For example, when the valve is actuated to stop movement of the fingers 50, the supply of air to the first air nozzle 124 will be shut off and, instead, air will be supplied to second nozzle 126.

When the air is discharged from the second nozzle 126, it will cause the trailing inner flap 32 to rnove from the closed or semiclosed position shown in FIG. 9 with respect to the case 10C immediately below the finger-supporting member 52 and cause it to move upwardly, sufliciently to be engaged by the now stationary fingers 50. The flexibility of the fingers will prevent any damage to such trailing flap and as the case 10 proceeds to move in feeding direction as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 9, the fingers 50 will impose a drag upon said trailing inner fiap 32 and thereby cause the same to be unfolded to open position as illustrated with respect to the case 10D as viewed in FIG. 9, wherein all four of the flaps 28 and 32 have been unfolded to open position and are maintained in such position by slidable engagement with the guides 44 and elongated positioning strip 118. It will be understood that the delivery of air to the second air nozzle 126 will stop when the control valve 110 again is activated by trip member 114 to effect movement of fingers 50 and again direct air to be delivered from the first nozzle 124 for purposes of facilitating the engagement of the leading ap 32 on the next approaching case 10.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its several preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

We claim:

1. Flap-opening mechanism for rectangular cases made of foldable material and having closure fiaps hinged to at least one of the edges of the ends and side walls of said cases and folded onto each other substantially within the plane of said side wall edges to form an openable closure for the top or bottom of the same, said mechanism comprising in combination, conveyor means to move cases along a predetermined path with one pair of closure aps folded over the outer surfaces of the other pair of flaps, means to unfold the pair of outer flaps away from said folded position and outwardly past the planes of the walls of the case to which they are attached to expose the pair of folded inner aps, means to maintain said outer flaps in said unfolded position as the case moves along said path, and inner ap-unfolding means supported adjacent one side of said path and comprising a series of finger means projecting laterally for movement in the direction of said advancing cases at a speed greater than that of said conveyor means and into engagement with one side edge of the leading inner flap of a case as moved along said path to move said leading inner flap to unfolded position beyond the plane of the wall of the case to which it is connected, positioning means operable to engage and maintain said unfolded leading inner flap in said unfolded position as the case advances along said path, and control means for said inner Hap-unfolding means operable to stop the movement of said finger means thereof after moving said leading inner flap to said unfolded position and positioned to cause said finger means to engage one side edge of the folded trailing inner ap as said case advances along said path and thereby place a drag upon said trailing flap and cam it to unfolded position beyond the plane of the wall of the case to which it is connected and into engagement with said positioning means to maintain said trailing inner flap unfolded as said carton advances with all flaps maintained unfolded.

2. The flap-opening mechanism according to claim 1 further including powered drive means interconnected to said nger means and operable to move the same as aforesaid, said drive means also including control mechanism operable to start and stop movement of said finger means, said control mechanism being actuated by cases as advanced along said path.

3. The flap-opening mechanism according to claim 2 in which said control mechanism includes clutch means between said powered means and said linger means, and said control mechanism also includes a trip lever positioned to be slidably engaged by cases as advanced along said path.

4. The flap-opening mechanism according to claim 1 further including an endless flexible support member guided for movement around a closed path and supporting said finger means, said finger means comprising a series of fingers in laterally projecting arrangement upon said endless exible support member and in longitudinally spaced relationship with respect to each other for engagement of the outer ends of said lingers with said inner flaps, and powered drive means connected to said endless ilexible support means and operable to drive the same at a speed substantially greater than that at which said cases move along said path.

5. The nap-opening mechanism according to claim 4 in which said fingers are flexible spring-like members projecting transversely from said endless flexible support means.

6. Flap-opening mechanism for rectangular cases made of foldable material and having closure flaps hinged to at least one of the edges of the ends and side walls of said cases and folded onto each other substantially within the plane of said side wall edges to form an openable closure for the top or bottom of the cases, said mechanism comprising in combination, conveyor means to move cases along a predetermined path with one pair of closure aps folded over the outer surfaces of the other pair of flaps and respectively comprising pairs of inner and outer flaps, means to unfold the pair of outer flaps away from said folded position thereof and outwardly past the planes of the walls of the case to which they are connected to expose the folded inner flaps, means positioned to maintain said outer flaps in said unfolded position as the case moves along said path, and inner flap-unfolding means comprising at least one projecting member extending laterally into the path of movement of said cases and mounted for movement into engagement with a side edge of the leading inner flap of a case as moved along said path in the direction of movement of said case and at a faster speed to engage said leading inner flap in a manner to unfold the same beyond the plane of the wall of the case to which it is connected, positioning means operable to engage and maintain said unfolded leading inner flap in said unfolded position as the case advances along said path, and control means connected to said inner flap-unfolding means operable to stop movement of said inner flap-unfolding means with at least one projecting member positioned to engage the side edge of the trailing inner ap of said advancing case while substantially stationary and cam the same to a position beyond the plane of the wall of the case to which it is connected and into engagement with said positioning means to maintain said trailing inner flap unfolded as said carton thereafter advances with all flaps maintained unfolded, said projecting member being mounted for unidirectional movement only.

7. The flap-opening mechanism according to claim 6 in which said inner flap-unfolding means comprises a series of similar projecting members movable successively into engagement with said side edge of the leading inner ap of a case to unfold the same, and including driving means connected to said projecting member and operable to move the same in said same direction as an advancing case and at a speed substantially greater than that at which said case advances along said path.

8. The flap-opening mechanism according to claim 7 in which said series of projecting members are connected to and carried by a flexible support member supported for movement about a closed path, said fingers projecting from said support member in longitudinally spaced relationship upon said member.

9. The Hap-opening mechanism according to claim 8 in which said drive means for said flexible support member includes control means having an actuating member positioned adjacent the path of movement of advancing cases and engaged thereby successively for periodic actuation of said drive means by said control means.

10. The flap-opening mechanism according to claim 9 in which said actuating member for said control means comprises a trip shoe slidably engaged by one surface of a case as advanced along said path, said drive means remaining actuated during the period in which said trip shoe slidably engages such surface of a case.

11. The case flap-opening mechanism according to claim 9 further including clutch means in said drive means and sadi control means being interconnected to said clutch means for purposes of sequentially operating and stopping said drive means.

12. The flap-opening mechanism according to claim 7 additionally including auxiliary means to assist the initial opening movement of said inner aps comprising air blast nozzle means operable sequentially respectively to engage the leading and trailing inner aps of a case and at least partially move the same in unfolding direction to facilitate the engagement of such inner aps by said inner flap unfolding means to effect unfolding movement of said inner flaps beyond the planes of the walls of the case to which they are connected.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,761,263 9/1956 Bruce 53-382 3,224,165 12/1965 Nigrelli et al 53-382 3,241,292 3/1966 Berney 53-382 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

NEIL ABRAMS, Assistant Examiner. 

